Science & Research H-1B Sponsorship Jobs in California
California is one of the most active states for H-1B visa science and research sponsorship, anchored by major employers like Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Caltech. Research hubs in the San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, and Los Angeles draw international scientists, biologists, chemists, and research engineers seeking sponsored positions at biotechs, national labs, and universities.
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Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer II (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments.
We’re seeking a motivated individual looking to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within an active, collaborative lab environment. The goal is for you to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and, where appropriate, lead independent research projects using existing datasets from our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Harvard, the University of Utah, Northwestern, and other institutions.
This role suits candidates who want to build a strong scientific CV before applying to graduate programs in computational neuroscience or machine learning. It’s also a good fit for those seeking a longer-term position contributing to original research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of two years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc.)
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment. Further details of the physical requirements of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $70,304 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Full suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more.
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
- Remote/Hybrid/Flexible work schedules (Dependent on role).
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
- Free, on-site Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to benefits-eligible employees and their family members.
- Free, on-site parking.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
About us:
Scripps Research is a nonprofit biomedical institute ranked as one of the most influential in the world for its impact on innovation. We celebrated our 100-year legacy in 2024. This significant milestone marks a century of seminal discoveries in immunology, infectious diseases (such as COVID-19, flu, HIV), neuroscience, heart disease, cancer, and more. Located in La Jolla, California, the institute houses six research departments, multiple Nobel laureates, a top-ranked graduate school and a leading postdoctoral training program. Scripps Research encompasses two elite and highly innovative institutes, the Calibr-Skaggs Institute for Innovative Medicines and Scripps Research Translational Institute, which merge foundational studies in biology, chemistry and computer science with translational science to produce pioneering drugs and advances in digital and precision medicine. Together, we cultivate new scientific leaders and expand the frontiers of knowledge to deliver medical breakthroughs impacting human health around the globe. If you have a passion for making a difference, this could be your opportunity to join our transformative team.
POSITION TITLE: Research Programmer II (Software Engineer)
Position Summary:
The Kennedy laboratory is involved in numerous projects to track, quantify, and forecast behavior and relate it to recorded neural activity. We develop new computational methods to understand how agents (animals, humans, virtual) gather information about their sensory environment, integrate this with internal motivational needs, and execute goal-directed actions in complex, naturalistic environments.
We’re seeking a motivated individual looking to gain hands-on experience in scientific research within an active, collaborative lab environment. The goal is for you to contribute to peer-reviewed publications and, where appropriate, lead independent research projects using existing datasets from our collaborators at the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Harvard, the University of Utah, Northwestern, and other institutions.
This role suits candidates who want to build a strong scientific CV before applying to graduate programs in computational neuroscience or machine learning. It’s also a good fit for those seeking a longer-term position contributing to original research and model development.
REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Applied Math, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education, training and/or experience. Other STEM degrees may be accepted if accompanied with programming education, training, and/or experience.
- Minimum of two years experience in software application development or research programming.
- Experience with software development in Python.
- Experience building and training deep neural networks for supervised, unsupervised, or reinforcement learning problems.
- A demonstrated ability to apply the fundamentals of software application development.
- Experience with version control, including git and github.
Please include code samples and/or a link to a public code repository with examples of your work.
PREFERRED SKILLSET:
Prior experience with one or more of the following is preferred:
- Experience with sequence/time series data, control/reinforcement learning problems and environments, time series forecasting.
- An understanding of generative modeling (hidden Markov models, diffusion models, etc.)
- Familiarity with topics in motor control, robotics, and neuroscience.
As a member of a computational lab working in team projects, the following general skills are also preferred:
- Experience developing scalable system architectures that adhere to good software engineering principles.
- Ability to tackle large, open-ended research questions independently and as part of a team.
- Willingness to be an active participant in a computational lab environment, including taking part in lab meetings, journal clubs, and hackathons.
- Experience working within a diverse, interdisciplinary team.
- Experience contributing to open source software projects.
LOCATION: La Jolla, California.
Physical Requirements: This position works in an office environment. Further details of the physical requirements of established essential functions for this position will be addressed/discussed during the interview process.
COMPENSATION:
The expected hiring range for this position is $70,304 to $80,000 per year, commensurate with experience. Consideration will be given to experience that exceeds the listed requirements.
COMPREHENSIVE BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution.
- Full suite of Health and Welfare plans including three medical plan options (including an HSA available option), dental, vision, life insurance, disability, EAP and more.
- Access to Flexible Spending Accounts (Medical/Dependent Care).
- Remote/Hybrid/Flexible work schedules (Dependent on role).
- Competitive vacation and sick leave policies.
- Free, on-site Counseling Center which provides confidential counseling services to benefits-eligible employees and their family members.
- Free, on-site parking.
The above statements describe the level of work performed and expected in general terms. The statements are not intended to list all the responsibilities, duties and/or skills required of employees so classified, and the content herein is subject to change due to the business needs of Scripps Research, with or without notice. Furthermore, nothing in this job description shall be interpreted to be in conflict with or to eliminate or modify in any way the employment-at-will status of Scripps Research staff.
EEO Statement:
The Scripps Research Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We promote diversity of thought, culture and background in the fields of science. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic or status.
Equal Opportunity Employer
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
H-1B Science & Research Job Roles in California
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Search Science & Research Jobs in CaliforniaScience & Research H-1B Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which science and research companies sponsor H-1B visas in California?
California's biotechnology and life sciences sector includes some of the most active H-1B visa sponsors in the country. Companies like Genentech, Gilead Sciences, Amgen, Illumina, and 10x Genomics have consistent histories of H-1B filings for research roles. National laboratories such as Lawrence Berkeley, SLAC, and JPL also sponsor research scientists. University of California campuses are among the top institutional sponsors statewide.
Which cities in California have the most science and research H-1B sponsorship jobs?
The San Francisco Bay Area leads by volume, with concentrations in South San Francisco, San Francisco, and the broader biotech corridor along Highway 101. San Diego is a major hub for pharmaceutical and genomics research, home to companies like Illumina and Scripps Research. Los Angeles has growing research activity tied to UCLA, USC, and several biotech campuses. Sacramento sees smaller but steady demand from agricultural and environmental research employers.
What types of science and research roles typically qualify for H-1B sponsorship in California?
Roles that typically qualify are those requiring at least a bachelor's degree in a specific scientific or technical discipline. Common examples include research scientists, computational biologists, chemists, biostatisticians, clinical research associates, environmental scientists, and R&D engineers. USCIS evaluates whether the position qualifies as a specialty occupation, meaning the degree requirement must be tied directly to the specific job duties, not just general education.
How do I find science and research H-1B sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international job seekers and filters science and research positions in California by H-1B sponsorship history, so you can focus on employers who have filed for H-1B workers in your field rather than applying broadly. Search by role type and location to identify active opportunities at California biotechs, national labs, and research universities. This saves significant time compared to manually verifying sponsorship eligibility on a company-by-company basis.
Are there any California-specific considerations for H-1B sponsorship in science and research?
California's strong university system and NIH-funded research infrastructure mean many sponsoring employers are either academic institutions or companies spun out of university research programs. Employers in California must comply with state labor laws on top of federal H-1B prevailing wage requirements, which can affect how job offers are structured. California's high concentration of cap-exempt employers, including universities and nonprofit research organizations, also means some positions can be filed outside the annual H-1B lottery.
What is the prevailing wage for H-1B science & research jobs in California?
U.S. employers sponsoring a visa must pay at least the prevailing wage, which is what workers in the same role, area, and experience level typically earn. The Department of Labor sets this rate to make sure companies aren't hiring foreign workers simply because they'd accept lower pay than a U.S. worker. It varies by job title, location, and experience. You can look up current prevailing wage rates for any occupation and location using the OFLC Wage Search page.